Tableau Server Uses PostgreSQL ODBC Driver to Connect to Amazon Redshift If Redshift ODBC Driver is Not Installed

Issue

If the Amazon Redshift ODBC driver is not installed on the computer running Tableau Server, connections to Amazon Redshift might instead use the PostgreSQL driver, which is installed by default alongside Tableau Server.

Environment

Tableau Server
Amazon Redshift
PostgreSQL ODBC driver

Resolution

This behavior occurs by design in order to assist with initial setup, however connecting to Amazon Redshift via the PosgtreSQL ODBC is not recommended. Download and install the Redshift ODBC driver in order to connect to Amazon Redshift.

Cause

Prior to Amazon’s release of a native Redshift ODBC driver, Tableau used the PostgreSQL driver to connect to Amazon Redshift.

Additional Information

While using the PostgreSQL ODBC Driver to connect to Amazon Redshift, the queries are not optimized; you may see performance degradation or loss of Tableau functionality.
While the ability to connect using the Postgres driver remains, the only supported driver for connections to Amazon Redshift is the Redshift ODBC driver available at https://www.tableau.com/support/driver.

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